Preparing Eastern Ontario for the Future

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Preparing Eastern Ontario for the Future

The Long-Term Report on the Economy identifies demographic, economic and employment trends in Ontario that will present future challenges and opportunities. In response, Ontario is building inclusive growth provincewide that will create prosperity for years to come by developing a highly skilled workforce, making health care more accessible, building modern infrastructure and supporting business innovation and growth.

Regional economic growth is affected by many factors, including natural resources, the mix of business and industry, and demographics. According to the report, by 2040 Eastern Ontario's population is projected to rise by 23.2 per cent to 2.22 million, with all major age groups projected to grow.

Ontario is committed to making long-term investments in services and infrastructure to address the challenges and improve the economic conditions of Eastern Ontario, while preparing for the jobs and economy of tomorrow. According to a forthcoming study by the Centre for Spatial Economics, every dollar invested in infrastructure results in an increase of nearly $6 in real GDP over the long-term.

Supporting the expansion of Ottawa's light rail transit system, including building approximately 30 kilometres of new rail and 19 new stations to reduce travel times and help connect people to more jobs.

Replacing the Cataraqui River Bridge and widening Highway 401 outside of Kingston to six lanes from four, improving traffic flow and the daily commute for those in the region.